YORGOS JAVELLAS

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB

Original title:  Antigoni

Greece, 1961.  Norma Film Productions.  Screenplay by Yorgos Javellas.  Cinematography by Dinos Katsouridis.  Produced by James Paris.  Music by Arghyris Kounadis.  Production Design by Hans Hurch.  Film Editing by Giorgos Tsaoulis.  

Anyone with an interest in classical Greek theatre will get much out of this faithful adaptation of Sophocles’ play. Following the death of Oedipus’s two sons, the throne of Thebes is given to Creon, who orders that only one brother be buried while the other should be left out on the ground to rot. Antigone, sister of the slain men, pities her brother too much and gives him a burial of sorts, but this incurs Creon’s wrath for her disobedience and she is punished with live entombment in a cave for the rest of her days. Not as expressively captivating as Michael Cacoyannis’s Electra, this film is still notable for its beautiful photography, excellent costumes and two masterful performances in the leads: Manos Katrakis as the proud but eventually humbled Creon, and Irene Papas as the tragic heroine.